1. A two-dimensional colorimeter comprising:
an image sensing section, including an image sensor constituted of a number of pixels arranged in a two-dimensional manner, for sensing an object image to be measured to acquire a two-dimensional image;
a discriminator for discriminating whether a targeted color with respect to the two-dimensional image acquired by the image sensing section is to be corrected in terms of a pixel or pixels;
a calculator for performing a calculation to apply predetermined correction information corresponding to the color to be corrected to the two-dimensional image in terms of a pixel or pixels, based on a discrimination result by the discriminator; and
a storage for storing discrimination chromaticity values for discriminating whether the targeted color is the color to be corrected, and calibration coefficients as the correction information in association with the discrimination chromaticity values, wherein the discrimination chromaticity values are information relating to chromaticity ranges each having a predetermined range concerning the chromaticity value,
the discriminator compares measurement chromaticity values as chromaticity values on the two-dimensional image acquired by the image sensing section in terms of a pixel or pixels, with the discrimination chromaticity values stored in the storage, and
the calculator selects the calibration coefficient corresponding to the color to be corrected from the calibration coefficients stored in the storage in accordance with a comparison result by the discriminator to multiply the selected calibration coefficient by the measurement chromaticity value.
2. The two-dimensional colorimeter according to claim 1, further comprising a calibrator for calculating the respective calibration coefficients based on a ratio of the measurement chromaticity value corresponding to the color to be corrected versus a true value obtained by a measurement with respect to the color to be corrected by a measuring device other than the two-dimensional colorimeter.
3. The two-dimensional colorimeter according to claim 1, wherein
the storage stores therein a lookup table recorded with chromaticity range information and the correction information which are correlated to each other with respect to each of the colors to be corrected.
4. The two-dimensional colorimeter according to claim 3, wherein
the lookup table is created by a calibrator, and
the calibrator creates the lookup table based on information relating to the color to be corrected at a site arbitrarily designated by a user on the two-dimensional image acquired by sensing the object image to be measured, and based on the measurement chromaticity value and a true value at the site designated on the two-dimensional image.
5. The two-dimensional colorimeter according to claim 1, wherein
a white color calibration is performed as a process prior to the calculation of applying the predetermined correction information corresponding to the color to be corrected to the two-dimensional image in terms of a pixel or pixels.
6. A two-dimensional colorimeter comprising:
an image sensing section, including an image sensor constituted of a number of pixels arranged in a two-dimensional manner, for sensing an object image to be measured to acquire a two-dimensional image;
a discriminator for discriminating whether a targeted color with respect to the two-dimensional image acquired by the image sensing section is to be corrected in terms of a pixel or pixels;
a calculator for performing a calculation to apply predetermined correction information corresponding to the color to be corrected to the two-dimensional image in terms of a pixel or pixels, based on a discrimination result by the discriminator;
a storage for storing discrimination chromaticity values for discriminating whether the targeted color is the color to be corrected, and calibration coefficients as the correction information in association with the discrimination chromaticity values, wherein
the discriminator compares measurement chromaticity values as chromaticity values on the two-dimensional image acquired by the image sensing section in terms of a pixel or pixels, with the discrimination chromaticity values stored in the storage, and
the calculator selects the calibration coefficient corresponding to the color to be corrected from the calibration coefficients stored in the storage in accordance with a comparison result by the discriminator to multiply the selected calibration coefficient by the measurement chromaticity value; and
a calibrator for calculating the respective calibration coefficients based on a ratio of the measurement chromaticity value corresponding to the color to be corrected versus a true value obtained by a measurement with respect to the color to be corrected by a measuring device other than the two-dimensional colorimeter.
7. The two-dimensional colorimeter according to claim 6, wherein
the discrimination chromaticity values are information relating to chromaticity ranges each having a predetermined range concerning the chromaticity value.
8. The two-dimensional colorimeter according to claim 6, wherein
the storage stores therein a lookup table recorded with chromaticity range information and the correction information which are correlated to each other with respect to each of the colors to be corrected.
9. The two-dimensional colorimeter according to claim 8, wherein
the lookup table is created by a calibrator, and
the calibrator creates the lookup table based on information relating to the color to be corrected at a site arbitrarily designated by a user on the two-dimensional image acquired by sensing the object image to be measured, and based on the measurement chromaticity value and a true value at the site designated on the two-dimensional image.
10. The two-dimensional colorimeter according to claim 6, wherein
a white color calibration is performed as a process prior to the calculation of applying the predetermined correction information corresponding to the color to be corrected to the two-dimensional image in terms of a pixel or pixels.
11. A two-dimensional colorimeter comprising:
an image sensing section, including an image sensor constituted of a number of pixels arranged in a two-dimensional manner, for sensing an object image to be measured to acquire a two-dimensional image;
a discriminator for discriminating whether a targeted color with respect to the two-dimensional image acquired by the image sensing section is to be corrected in terms of a pixel or pixels;
a calculator for performing a calculation to apply predetermined correction information corresponding to the color to be corrected to the two-dimensional image in terms of a pixel or pixels, based on a discrimination result by the discriminator; and
a storage for storing discrimination chromaticity values for discriminating whether the targeted color is the color to be corrected, and calibration coefficients as the correction information in association with the discrimination chromaticity values,
wherein the storage stores therein a lookup table created by the calibrator and recorded with chromaticity range information and the correction information which are correlated to each other with respect to each of the colors to be corrected,
the calibrator creates the lookup table based on information relating to the color to be corrected at a site arbitrarily designated by a user on the two-dimensional image acquired by sensing the object image to be measured, and based on the measurement chromaticity value and a true value at the site designated on the two-dimensional image,
the discriminator compares measurement chromaticity values as chromaticity values on the two-dimensional image acquired by the image sensing section in terms of a pixel or pixels, with the discrimination chromaticity values stored in the storage, and
the calculator selects the calibration coefficient corresponding to the color to be corrected from the calibration coefficients stored in the storage in accordance with a comparison result by the discriminator to multiply the selected calibration coefficient by the measurement chromaticity value.
12. The two-dimensional colorimeter according to claim 11, wherein
the discrimination chromaticity values are information relating to chromaticity ranges each having a predetermined range concerning the chromaticity value.
13. The two-dimensional colorimeter according to claim 11, further comprising a calibrator for calculating the respective calibration coefficients based on a ratio of the measurement chromaticity value corresponding to the color to be corrected versus a true value obtained by a measurement with respect to the color to be corrected by a measuring device other than the two-dimensional colorimeter.
14. The two-dimensional colorimeter according to claim 11, wherein
a white color calibration is performed as a process prior to the calculation of applying the predetermined correction information corresponding to the color to be corrected to the two-dimensional image in terms of a pixel or pixels.
15. A two-dimensional colorimeter comprising:
an image sensor having a plurality of pixels arranged in a two-dimensional configuration and which is adapted to sense an object image and acquire a two-dimensional image of the object;
a comparator which is configured to discriminate whether a targeted color with respect to the two-dimensional image acquired by the image sensor is to be corrected in terms of a pixel or pixels;
a multiplier configured to apply predetermined correction information corresponding to the color to be corrected to the two-dimensional image in terms of a pixel or pixels, based on a discrimination result by the comparator;
a memory which is configured to store discrimination chromaticity values for discriminating whether the targeted color is the color to be corrected, and calibration coefficients as the correction information in association with the discrimination chromaticity values, the discrimination chromaticity values being information relating to chromaticity ranges each having a predetermined range concerning the chromaticity value,
wherein the comparator is configured to compare measurement chromaticity values as chromaticity values on the two-dimensional image acquired by the image sensing section in terms of a pixel or pixels, with the discrimination chromaticity values stored in the memory, and
the multiplier is configured to select the calibration coefficient corresponding to the color to be corrected from the calibration coefficients stored in the memory in accordance with a comparison result by the comparator to multiply the selected calibration coefficient by the measurement chromaticity value.
16. A method of operating a two-dimensional colorimeter having an image sensing section, including an image sensor constituted of a number of pixels arranged in a two-dimensional manner, for sensing an object image to be measured to acquire a two-dimensional image, said method comprising the steps of:
discriminating whether a targeted color with respect to a two-dimensional image acquired by the image sensing section is to be corrected in terms of a pixel or pixels;
performing a calculation to apply predetermined correction information corresponding to the color to be corrected to the two-dimensional image in terms of a pixel or pixels, based on a discrimination result;
storing discrimination chromaticity values for discriminating whether the targeted color is the color to be corrected, and calibration coefficients as the correction information in association with the discrimination chromaticity values, the step of discriminating including comparing measurement chromaticity values as chromaticity values on the two-dimensional image in terms of a pixel or pixels, with the stored discrimination chromaticity values, and
calculating the respective calibration coefficients based on a ratio of the measurement chromaticity value corresponding to the color to be corrected versus a true value obtained by a measurement with respect to the color to be corrected by a measuring device other than the two-dimensional colorimeter, the step of calculating including selecting the calibration coefficient corresponding to the color to be corrected from the stored calibration coefficients in accordance with a comparison result from the step of discriminating to correct the measurement chromaticity value using the selected calibration coefficient.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A process for producing an instantized amino acid product comprising:
obtaining a particulate amino acid;
coating the amino acid particles with an aqueous solution of a food grade gum;
adhering at least one gum-coated amino acid particle to at least one other gum-coated amino acid particle, thereby forming an agglomerate of amino acid particles;
drying the agglomerate;
coating the agglomerate with an aqueous solution of a food grade surfactant; and
drying the surfactant-coated agglomerate.
2. The process of claim 1 wherein the amino acid particles have a particle size diameter of from about 63 microns to about 400 microns.
3. The process of claim 1 wherein the amino acid particles have a particle size diameter of from about 100 microns to about 200 microns.
4. The process of claim 1 wherein the food grade gum comprises guar gum.
5. The process of claim 1 wherein the surfactant comprises soy lecithin or sunflower lecithin.
6. The process of claim 1 wherein the amino acid is a branched chain amino acid.
7. The process of claim 1 wherein the agglomerate is dried at a temperature of from about 110\xb0 F. to about 212\xb0 F.
8. The process of claim 7, wherein the drying occurs in a fluid bed apparatus,
9. The process of claim 1 wherein the aqueous solution of the food grade gum comprises a gum concentration of from about 2%, by weight, to about 15%, by weight.
10. The process of claim 1 wherein the aqueous solution of the food grade surfactant comprises a surfactant concentration of from about 1%, by weight to about 5%, by weight.
11. The process of claim 1 wherein the amino acid particles are hammer milled or jet milled.
12. A process for producing an instantized amino acid product comprising:
obtaining a particulate amino acid;
coating the outer surface of the amino acid particles with an aqueous solution of a food grade surfactant; and
drying the surfactant-coated amino acid particles.
13. The process of claim 12 wherein the amino acid particles have an average particle size diameter of from about 150 microns to about 400 microns.
14. The process of claim 12 wherein the amino acid particles have an average particle size diameter of from about 200 microns to about 300 microns.
15. The process of claim 12 wherein the amino acid comprises a branched chain amino acid.
16. The process of claim 12 wherein the surfactant-coated amino acid particles are dried in a fluid bed apparatus at a temperature of from about 140\xb0 F. to about 212\xb0 F.
17. An agglomerate comprising:
an inner core comprising:
at least two amino acid particles adhered to another with a food grade gum; and
open porous channels between the amino acid particles; and
an outer layer comprising a food grade surfactant.
18. An amino acid-enriched beverage comprising a liquid and the instantized amino acid agglomerates of claim 17.
19. The amino acid-enriched beverage of claim 18 wherein the amino acid agglomerates are prepared by a process comprising:
obtaining a particulate amino acid;
coating the amino acid articles with an aqueous solution of a food grade gum;
adhering at least one gum-coated amino acid particle to at least one other gum-coated amino acid particle, thereby forming an agglomerate of amino acid particles;
drying the agglomerate;
coating the agglomerate with an aqueous solution of a food grade surfactant; and
drying the surfactant-coated agglomerate.
20. The amino acid-enriched beverage of claim 18 wherein the beverage comprises from about 1 gram to about 10 grams of the instantized amino acid agglomerates per 200 milliliters of liquid.
21. The amino acid-enriched beverage of claim 18 wherein the liquid comprises a milk product.
22. An amino acid-enriched beverage comprising a liquid and instantized surfactant-coated amino acid particles prepared by a process comprising:
obtaining a particulate amino acid;
coating the outer surface of the amino acid particles with an aqueous solution of a food grade surfactant; and
driving the surfactant-coated amino articles.